In September 2022, Ferrari presented the Purosangue, marking their first foray into the four-door segment. While Ferrari refrains from terming it as an SUV, it’s inevitably categorized as one, much to their dismay. Many anticipate the Ferrari Purosangue to be compared with the Lamborghini Urus. Some see Ferrari’s move as an answer to its age-old competition with Lamborghini. As the Urus has already cemented its success, it’s regarded by many enthusiasts as perhaps Lamborghini’s most practical and standout model.
Our objective today is to contrast the Lamborghini Urus with the Ferrari Purosangue. The Purosangue is powered by a more extensive V-12 engine, in opposition to the Urus’s V8.
So, without any further due, let’s delve into the unique characteristics of these cars and spotlight their distinctions.
Ferrari Purosangue vs Lamborghini Urus: A Glimpse into Their Past
Lamborghini Urus (2017-Present)
In the 1980s, Lamborghini dipped its toes into the SUV arena with the LM002, affectionately known as the “Rambo Lambo.” However, this was a limited edition, with Lamborghini primarily focusing on sports cars for the subsequent years.
The idea of the Lamborghini Urus took the stage at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, embodying the dream of a high-octane SUV. After years of meticulous design and adjustments, the finished model was revealed in December 2017.
Ferrari Purosangue (2022-)
Emerging from the prestigious Italian automaker, the Purosangue marks Ferrari’s debut into the SUV domain and its maiden journey into the 4-door segment. Competing with elite SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX, its foundation is rooted in the Ferrari Roma coupe platform. Codenamed F175, its conception commenced in 2017 and was unveiled in September 2022, positioning it for the 2023 model season.
Tecnical Specification
| Specification | Urus | Purosangue |
| Engine | V8, 4.0L | 6.5 L, DOHC 48-valve V-12 |
| Power | 641-657 hp | 715 hp |
| Torque | 268-369 lb-ft | 528 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed transmission |  8-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 3,0 seconds | 3.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 190 mph | 193 mph |
| Weight | 4986 lbs | 4850 lbs |
Exterior Styling
Urus
The Urus exterior is an art of visual deception. Detailed character lines give it a muscular stance with seemingly recessed sides. However, a closer look reveals almost flat flanks and minimal fender protrusion. The descending hood accentuates its unparalleled design.
Sharing its base with vehicles like the Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and Audi Q8, the Urus capitalizes on the MLB Evo platform, ensuring top-tier comfort, technology, and dynamics. While some opine that this shared foundation might confine its design potential, Lamborghini has adeptly concealed its ties to the Volkswagen Group. The vehicle’s face boasts a wide, flat hood reminiscent of Lamborghini’s iconic supercars. The emblem sits proudly in the center, with the design gracefully weaving around it. The dominating grille, accentuated by a vast air intake and a front splitter, magnifies the vehicle’s commanding aura.
The Urus is unmistakably distinctive with its streamlined glass structure and potent-looking sides. The signature Y-shaped rear lights and a tailgate spoiler lend it an unmistakable Lamborghini essence.
Legacy and Distinctiveness
Drawing inspiration from its predecessors, the Urus has design elements that hark back to the iconic LM002 Lamborghini off-roader of the late ’80s. This isn’t the brand’s inaugural SUV venture and the design captures this legacy beautifully. The Urus doesn’t shy away from the glitz, with features ranging from optional 23-inch wheels, which some might deem lavish, to the carbon-fiber fuel lid, elevating its opulence.
Ferrari Purosangue
Describing the distinctive look of the Ferrari Purosangue, the Italian brand emphasized its uniqueness compared to typical GT models, distancing it from the usual SUV classification. Indeed, its appearance leans closer to a robust GTC4Lusso than a conventional tall SUV.
The 2023 Purosangue boasts a lengthened hood to house the prominent front-mid-mounted V12. This front-hinged clamshell hood enabled more imaginative designs around the A-pillar area. The vehicle’s design showcases two distinct layers: a commanding upper structure and a more intricate lower one, with the top hovering over the wheel arches.
The car’s front is characterized by prominent aero ducts with the actual headlights positioned beside the intakes, lower than expected. Eschewing a traditional front grille, a dihedral suspended on the bottom lends a modern look. Unique rear-hinged doors aid entry and exit in the rear, setting the Purosangue apart wildly when these doors swing open. These doors also feature automatic operation.
The vehicle stands on mismatched 22-/23-inch wheels at the front and back, with multiple design options. Brake calipers can be personalized in blue, red, and yellow hues. Roof choices range from standard to panoramic glass and carbon fiber.
The rear showcases a linear boundary that merges with the taillights on each side. Under these lights, twin scoops lead to dual vents. The look is complete with broad rear wings, a pronounced diffuser, a back spoiler, and circular quad-exit tailpipes. These tailpipes offer sport exhaust or black ceramic upgrades. True to the brand’s tradition, the Ferrari Purosangue SUV is fully customizable.
Ride and handling
Urus
Ride Experience: The Lamborghini Urus boasts an advanced air suspension system enriched with intelligent electronics, ensuring a significant level of comfort. While the Urus is slightly more reactive to rough roads than the Bentley Bentayga, it still provides a comfortable ride. Its affinity for smoother surfaces is noticeable, but its Strada suspension setting is calm and controlled on undulating roads. Even in Sport mode, it absorbs most bumps effectively.
Agility and Precision: Despite its weight, the Lamborghini Urus performs like a sports car, not a large SUV. Its engineering feats are genuinely remarkable.
Cornering Ability: What’s striking about the Urus is its agility when taking corners. Its immediate steering, which gets more responsive as you turn further, may be unexpected initially but soon feels natural, enabling precise vehicle positioning. This advanced steering significantly contributes to the driving sensation.
Stability in Corners: Contrary to what might be expected from such a large vehicle, the Urus doesn’t exhibit much body roll. Advanced anti-roll bars ensure the car remains stable, making it feel as grounded as some sedans, further elevating its driving dynamics.
Unmatched Grip: The combination of minimal body lean and expansive tires ensures the Urus has an exceptional grip, enabling drivers to push their boundaries confidently.
Advanced Steering: Another feather in the Urus’s cap is its four-wheel steering. This system makes turns sharper at low speeds by moving the rear wheels opposite to the front ones. At higher rates, both sets of wheels align, enhancing stability.
Ferrari Purosangue
The Purosangue introduces a revolutionary suspension system, rendering anti-roll bars unnecessary. Multimatic develops this system and employs their refined active spool-valve dampers coupled with electric motors. Dubbed the Ferrari Active Suspension Technology (FAST) by Maranello, the supplier refers to it as Multimatic TrueActive Spool Valve Dampers (TASV).
Multimatic highlights that all active and passive dampers function as reactive components, absorbing road and G-force impacts. However, their new system takes it up a notch. It’s so agile that it feels anticipatory. Rather than reacting after the vehicle encounters a bump or makes a turn, the system adjusts instantly based on anticipated movements, keeping the car stable.
This immediate response ensures the car remains level under various road conditions, offering comfort and agility. It presents an efficient solution that eliminates the need for anti-roll bars or dynamic ride adjustments. Multimatic asserts that the TASV system does not need to choose between performance, stability, or comfort – it delivers all seamlessly.
Consumer Perspective
Urus Pros:
- Performance Attributes: The Lamborghini Urus has a potent 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. With an astounding 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, it zooms from 0-60 mph in a mere 3.6 seconds. This SUV gives you the thrill of a supercar.
- Aesthetics and Opulence: Lamborghini’s signature fierce design is evident in the Urus. Its exterior is a head-turner, and the interior doesn’t disappoint either. The cabin features top-notch materials, state-of-the-art technology, and myriad personalization options, encapsulating luxury in every detail.
- Versatility Aspect: The Urus is more utilitarian and sets itself apart from the typical Lamborghini lineup. It comfortably accommodates five passengers and offers commendable cargo space. With its adaptive air suspension and varied driving modes, it guarantees a smooth ride on city avenues or rugged trails.
Urus Cons:
- Price Tag: Starting at over $200,000, the Lamborghini Urus is a luxury not everyone can afford. And if you wish to add on extras or customizations, the cost escalates, placing it among the priciest SUVs available.
- Gas Consumption: A powerful machine like the Urus demands its share of fuel. Its consumption rates are considerably higher than your average SUV. The Urus might be better for those prioritizing fuel efficiency.
- Practicality Quandaries: While the Urus stands out in the Lamborghini range for its spaciousness, it might not stack up against other luxury SUVs in terms of utility. Tall passengers will find the rear seat a squeeze, and the cargo area, though satisfactory for a performance SUV, might need more than those seeking a fully functional family vehicle.
Ferrari Purosangue Pros:
- Performance: The Purosangue boasts a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine capable of delivering 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque. The SUV is anticipated to accelerate from 0-62 mph in approximately 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed close to 193 mph.
- Ride and Handling: Equipped with a contemporary suspension system, the Purosangue ensures a harmonious balance between ride and handling.
Purosangue Cons:
- High Cost: The Purosangue ranks among the priciest SUVs available today.
Ferrari Purosangue vs Lamborghini Urus: Practical Considerations
Urus and the Purosangie are spacious and practical offerings from their respective Italian brands but exhibit significant differences.
The Urus features traditional doors, whereas the Ferrari Purosangue boasts Rolls Royce-inspired suicide rear doors. These distinct doors provide broader access to the Purosangue’s interior, designed strictly as a four-seater. On the other hand, the Urus stands out in terms of adaptability, accommodating up to five individuals, while the Purosangue can house only four. The Urus impresses with its V8 engine, balancing robust performance and fuel efficiency. In contrast, the Purosangue boasts a powerful V12 engine that primarily emphasizes performance.
The Urus has a 616-liter trunk volume when evaluating cargo space compared to the Purosangue’s 473 liters. Both are contenders in the large sports SUV category. The Purosangue is 16.3 feet long with a 9.9-foot wheelbase, while the Urus is slightly longer at 16.7 feet with a 9.8-foot wheelbase. Both are equal in width at 6.6 feet. However, the height difference is notable: the Ferrari stands at 5.2 feet, whereas the Urus is taller at 5.38 feet.
Lastly, there’s a significant price gap between the two. The 2023 Lamborghini Urus is priced at $230,000, while the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue carries a hefty tag of $400,000.
